In this video, Chris Sugai himself gives us a look at the highlights of the all new RIP 9 RDO features, options and how to order one for yourself! With the increase in carbon models from Niner, could a longer travel RDO bike (WFO RDO anyone?) be in the works?

We hung out with Chris Sugai at Interbike and he showed of their latest creation. It is the R.I.P. 9 RDO Carbon and it their latest marriage of their R.I.P 9 design married to their carbon technology which has been proven in the JET 9 RDO bike released last year. What it delivers is greater stiffness and durability in a lighter and more stunning package. 125 mm of rear suspension is ready for 120-140 mm of travel. They slackened up the front end and lowered the BB. And reports from the Niner headquarters is employees are fighting over these R.I.P. RDO bikes in the fleet of tester bikes in the office. Cable routing is internal in the downtube but it exits before the bottom bracket to avoid installation and maintenance complexity.

Chris was most proud of the main suspension pivot bearings. It has a huge axle that can be tensioned with a bottom bracket tool then it is locked on the other side to maintain perfect bearing preload. At Mtbr, we normally disconnect the rear shock now to check if the rear is free-moving and free of play. Just like a wheel, bearing tension is critical for removing play and for ensuring freedom of movement. A lot of rear ends are tight and they restrict the movement of rear suspension. It is a hidden crutch that can ruin the suspension action of a good design.

CVA™ Suspension
The R.I.P. 9 RDO features Niner’s patented CVA suspension (U.S. Patent No. 7,934,739) and delivers 125mm of fully active travel with superb compliance and damping via a tuned for CVA Fox Float CTD Factory Shock with Trail Adjust and Kashima Coat. For those seeking the technical advantages of 29” wheels combined with pedaling efficiency across all chainring combinations (not just the middle ring), CVA™ is the front-runner. The result? A faster, smoother ride up and down the trail.

Versatile Geometry
To progress as a rider you need predictability, balance and nimble handling and Niner is the company that first made fun trail bike 29ers a reality. Climbing or descending, the geometry of the R.I.P. 9 RDO is tuned to keep you in control and ready to conquer new terrain at every turn. The R.I.P. 9 RDO is intended for 120 to 140mm forks, allowing riders to further fine tune the ride.

C5 Warranty
Our robust R&D program – computer modeling, physical prototype testing (both in-house and at independent testing facilities), and hours of riding by skilled and abusive individuals make us confident that the R.I.P. 9 RDO will exceed your expectations. We maintain that our carbon fiber development rivals the best in the bike industry and to back it up we offer our C5 warranty (five year) and a standard-setting commitment to customer service.

Tapered Headtube
The increased surface area of a tapered headtube allows for a larger downtube, increasing strength and rigidity at this critical intersection. Tapered fork steerer tubes measurably reduce fork deflection, which means your Niner tracks straight and true. The full spectrum of riders from XC racers to All Mountain shredders benefit from these features which is why we incorporate the technology in all our new frames. The R.I.P. 9 RDO lets you take full advantage of increased steering precision as you negotiate your daily dose of singletrack.

Attention to Detail
When you are in the backcountry, the details are what take your ride into the sublime. The trim and sexy carbon links rotate on oversized Angular Contact Bearings for awesome lateral rigidity and immediate power transfer, dropper post routing and ISCG 05 chainguide compatibility mean you can build this bike to fit your ride style and an integrated replaceable skid plate lets you try that optional line with confidence. The R.I.P. 9 RDO features more tire clearance, full housing internal cable routing for a clean look and precision-machined alloy interfaces for the bottom bracket, direct-mount front derailleur and brake caliper post mounts.

Pricing
R.I.P. 9 RDO frames and bikes will be shipping in March before the mountain trails melt. Complete bikes will be offered with limited edition top-end build kits.

We do not recommend the use of 2x XTR cranks because both the 40T version (48.8mm chain line) and the 38T version (46.6mm chain line) position the large chainring in a way that it may contact the frame. We choose not to compromise tire clearance or lateral rigidity to accomodate these non-standard configurations. Suggested alternatives are Shimano XT 2x and Race Face Next 2x cranksets.

Photo Thumbnails (click to enlarge)

Gregg Kato studied journalism and broadcasting in college while working many different jobs including deejaying, driving a forklift and building web sites (not all at the same time). Kato enjoys riding local Santa Cruz trails. Besides being an avid mountain biker, he is also a motorcycle fanatic. Two wheels, one Passion.

Related Articles

NOTE: There are two ways to comment on our articles: Facebook or Wordpress. Facebook uses your real name and can be posted on your wall while Wordpress uses our login system. Feel free to use either one.

Facebook Comments:

Wordpress Comments:

If you want a 29inch bike then these guys seem to have it covered. But if you ride tight trails as well as open trail centre stuff the 26 inch wheel still seems better. If you are buying a bike without a mortgage and want reliable hard use with loads of fun look at the simple HECKLER. Service the heckler pivotS (all two of them – one either side of the frame) with complete ease in minutes or actually as part of your regular bike clean / lube. Still as a 29er / high tech sceptic these guys do look to have a great product…..their whole concept appears to be balanced AND they are 29er focussed as opposed to on the band wagon….

My 2012 9er Jet RDO is hands down one amazing piece of craftsmanship. Apart from having to tighten up the bottom bracket, it’s been 2000 km of hassle free biking. Niner ROCKS !! Every ride is special and still keeps getting better!!